Designers Impress Fort Smith School Board

Thursday

Jun 6, 2013 at 4:08 AM

After interviewing eight firms interested in designing a new Fort Smith high school, arena and potentially a fine arts center, school board members now plan to see first-hand what the companies have already created.

After interviewing eight firms interested in designing a new Fort Smith high school, arena and potentially a fine arts center, school board members now plan to see first-hand what the companies have already created.

“All the presentations were very well done,” school board member Russell Owen said. “They were a mixture of local and some national, and then combinations of both. We thought we had some very excellent firms that were represented in the mix.”

Planning for the future, the Fort Smith School Board is considering a new high school on donated land at Chaffee Crossing, in addition to a 6,000-seat arena/convocation center and a fine arts building at undetermined locations.

The board interviewed firms Monday and Tuesday.

“The eight firms that we interviewed were very, very impressive,” school board member Wyman R. “Rick” Wade Jr. said. “These are some heavy hitters.”

Wade said the board has tentatively narrowed the field. The short list is under wraps until the school district notifies the firms who made the cut.

“To go to the next step, I think our plan at this point is to take a field trip and go look at some of the projects they had touted,” he said. “We’ve got the potential for three projects — a fine arts center, convocation or arena, and I think it’s fair to say now, a secondary school. As far as whether it would be a third high school as we know it or maybe a special purpose school, we haven’t gone that far in the process.”

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority donated about 80 acres along Wells Lake Road to the school district, according to FCRA Director Ivy Owen. That land is targeted for the proposed 1,500-student school.

“I think it’s exciting,” Owen said. “But I can’t emphasize how much work there is to do.”

Eventually, voters will likely be asked to approve a millage increase to fund the future projects.